My wife just acquired a 2007 Mini Cooper Base Convertible a couple weeks ago. Noticed it had been leaking red PSF from hose connecting to bottom of canister. I replaced the clamp and in doing so realized it needed more fluid. Bought Pentosin CHF 11s and came to find it's green in color.

My guess is the previous owner or someone else put regular PSF in it since it's red. I took a a turkey baster sucked out as much as I could. Then used a syringe to access where the baster didn't fit. Then I steered the wheel back forth a series of times to pump up what ever was still in the pump and lines. I really hope doing this wasn't a big mistake.

Finally, after starting and stopping that procedure a few times I decided to fill up the reservoir with the new CHF 11s. I'm guessing there must have been more of the old PSF in there because now the fluid in the canister is brown.

The car did make a "whining" sound prior to doing this. However, I thought it had went away after warming up and building up pressure. Well now it sounds to me like the "whining" doesn't go away at all. Steering seems a tad stiffer now too.

I don't know if it's just me being paranoid but... Could I have damaged the pump immediately by mixing to unknown fluid with the CHF 11s?

I read the whining sound is normal. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

You're doing the right thing, but you have to keep going. The CHF 11s is the correct fluid/lubricant, not the red stuff, so short of disassembling the system at the bottom to drain it out, keep filling it with the CHF, driving it for a couple of minutes, and then Turkey Bastering (It's a word: look it up)the brown stuff out. Do it until you get the clear liquid.

 

So it's not necessary to drain the system by disconnecting one of the lines, correct? I was contemplating doing that.

If I can just suck out what's in the reservoir now and keep refilling with fresh CHF 11s till it is no longer that "rusty" color I will do so.

Do you think this method will require another liter of CHF 11s? I think I have about half a can left.

Thanks!

 

Get the CHF 11s stuff and cycle it out , till you don't see any brown , should be green and consistent.

Or you can get it up on the rack or lift, Take the canisters off and flip both lines down. Mark the old location of the lines. And drain as much out. Then flip them back up and attach the canisters . Then add CHfF 11 s. And keep cycling . Good luck. Work the wheel a little back an forth to work the air out. Should feel tight and the whine should be allot less nisy.

Here is the CHF and canister and here is a good DIY on the lines to show you how everything works.

CHF 11S



https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hose-pics.html




Also: Change the filter canister while you are at it or done the road there is a little pre filter in there that will hold a little of the wrong PS ( red fluid ), mostly stained.

Good luck.

 

Is the filter you're speaking about actually inside the canister? I saw what looked like a cream color disc inside of it which is held down with a torn screw in the center. I had contemplated removing it so I could fit the baster in but wasn't sure if I should.

Thanks!

 

Yea, its a little filter screen. You can try to clean it out. Just make sure you have it off with the canister, i would want any particles in the screen going past it when you remove it. Be careful and take your time.

 

Disconnecting one of the lines is not going to drain the system very well, because the hose connections at the pump and rack are on top of the pump and rack, so all of that fluid would remain in the system. I would not recommend disconnecting the lines and bending them over--you're more likely to create steering fluid leaks by messing with them. Leaky lines on these cars is a big problem and they're not cheap.

 

I've had past issues with BMW power steering lines, yuck, costly leaky problems. How about going to Harbor Freight and getting one of those cheap transfer pumps. They are good for a single use @ $7, lots easier than turkey basting. When I brewed beer I got 4 years of service out of one of those for clean up duty.

 

Ok Helix13mini... I think I'll just stick to "master-bastering"

In all seriousness tho, can I suck out all the fluid from the reservoir, then with the reservoir empty, run the car with the cap off and turn the wheel back and forth to pump up whatever other liquid is still inside the lines & pump without causing any damage? I did this a few times last night and not sure if it was a bad idea.

If I should not, I will just empty the reservoir and refill with fresh fluid. Please advise.

And... thank you to everyone for your input.

 

I would not run it with no fluid as this can damage the pump. You aren't really getting the fluid to go into the reservoir and stay there, anyway, it'll still go back down into the pump. Your best bet is as you said, keep emptying it out and diluting it more and more until you're left with just the CHF-11.

 

The big thing is if you can get to a rack/ lift or not, I have drained these many times on a rack flipping down the lines a little, just to get more out before taking the lines off to replace the pumps. If you cannot get to a shop or have one accessible, the refill /empty from top method is your best bet.

Good luck and inspect everything else while you are down there.